Ethiopia: Government Forces Retake Mekele from Rebel Alliance

Sunday 04 - 08:55

Ethiopian government forces, supported by allied militias, have regained control of Mekele, the capital of the Tigray region, dealing a major blow to the opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Several sources cited by Reuters confirmed the city's capture on Sunday.

The TPLF acknowledged the withdrawal of its fighters from Mekele in a statement posted on social media. The movement also announced that regional authorities would temporarily leave the capital and continue their activities from another location.

Mekele Back Under Government Control

According to a source close to pro-government forces in Tigray, fighters from the Tigray Peace Forces entered the center of Mekele on Saturday afternoon. Ethiopian armed forces then joined them.

This development was also confirmed by a humanitarian source and a resident of the city, who indicated that government forces now control Mekele. The Ethiopian Prime Minister's office had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

The loss of Mekele is a significant blow for the TPLF, which launched a major offensive on September 23 against the Ethiopian federal army. This operation raised fears of renewed clashes in a region already deeply scarred by years of war.

An Escalation That Rekindles Regional Tensions

The rapid recapture of several positions by federal forces and their allies comes as fighting intensifies to its highest level since the civil war that ravaged Tigray between 2020 and 2022.

The new confrontation also poses a risk to regional stability. The conflict is no longer limited to the power dynamics between Addis Ababa and Tigray authorities, as several neighboring countries are now implicated in the accusations made by the different parties.

Last week, the Ethiopian government announced the severing of its diplomatic ties with Eritrea, accusing it of supporting the rebel alliance, alongside Sudan and Egypt. The three countries involved have denied these allegations.

The situation remains particularly volatile. While the retaking of Mekele represents a significant advance for the federal government, it could also open a new phase of the conflict, as concerns grow about a potential spread of violence beyond Tigray's borders.